Page 41 of The Keeper

“That only makes me want to know everything about you even more.” He tilted his head, smiling up at me. “What secrets does little Victoria have?”

The muscles in my throat worked hard to swallow back the growing panic. I wanted so much to play along with him but I couldn’t. I felt her everywhere. This room was like a vacuum.

Stifling.

Suffocating.

Tears welled in my eyes.

“Oh Charlie,” I whispered, sinking to my knees. The memories swept over me without mercy.

Her tear-stained face after returning home from the party I’d pressured her into going to with me.

The sound of her muffled cries late at night when she thought no one could hear her.

All the times she seemed on the verge of telling me something, then fading back into a cloud of silence. Why didn’t I press her harder, when I could clearly sense she was troubled by something. I’m her twin. I should have known how to save her.

The intense pain of her loss swallowed me whole. It’d been years since these emotions consumed me this way.

It took me a few seconds to realize I wasn’t crouched on the floor alone. I felt his arms first. A strong, comforting embrace. Then I was enveloped by his body and scent. My efforts to keep this part of my existence from him failed in spectacular fashion.

“You must think I’m batshit crazy,” I muttered against his shirt.

“Not at all, love.”

A heavy sigh rolled through me, amplifying my mental and emotional exhaustion. It relieved me to no end that Xavier didn’t ask any questions or even try to say something comforting. He just sat with me, holding me, stroking my hair. I don’t know how he knew this was what I needed, but he did.

After a few minutes, I sat back on my heels and wiped my eyes. As I picked up the diary, I paused. Then, without any misgivings I said, “This is my sister’s. Was my sister’s. Charlotte. She was my twin. She died when we were sixteen. This was her room, not mine.”

He looked at me, realization dawning on his face.

“I’m…I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

“It’s not really something I drop into casual conversation.”

Sharing this with him shifted our dynamic. It wasn’t better or worse, just heightened. My next thought was interrupted by the sound of a car door slamming. I jumped up to peek out the window.

It wasn’t Killian or Max. I couldn’t tell who it was through the shadows cast by the setting sun.

“Are you expecting anyone?” Xavier asked, placing a protective hand on my hip.

“No. It might be the guy from the charity again but he seemed pretty over it when he left earlier.”

“Stay here.”

The sound of his disappearing footsteps down the stairs echoed through the house. The person outside was already heading back to their car by the time Xavier trotted out the front door. The sight of him appeared to startle the uninvited guest. Whoever it was jumped in the car and sped off. Honestly, at this point, I was too emotionally drained to care.

I retreated from the window and grabbed Charlotte’s diary before going downstairs. I paused in the doorway, glancing back into my twin’s room. As painful as it’d been to be in there, I was more determined than ever to make sure this house never left my possession.

Killian pulled me close and spoke low, which for him was just regular human volume.

“Sweetie, if you want alone time with,” he gestured towards Xavier, “just say the word. We’ll go into town. Those Halstons are a hoot.”

“I can hear you,” Xavier said. He leaned against the kitchen counter and waved. “You don’t have to leave us alone. I prefer an audience.”

I looked at him and fought off an urge to clench my thighs together. Bringing him here for dinner seemed like a good idea on paper. He smiled at me in the sensual, dimpled way he has and helped himself to another cube of cheddar cheese.

Killian seized the opportunity. “Seems you’ve met your match, Tori,” he practically shouted.

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